Adams Unveils Participatory Budgeting Results for Brooklyn Schools
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined the Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP), the Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School, and the Tilden Educational Campus in Bedford-Stuyvesant and East Flatbush, respectively, to unveil the results of a participatory budgeting (PB) election in two Brooklyn schools.
The results come on the heels of the Mayor’s recent announcement that schools in New York City would resume in-person instruction this fall under a “blended-learning” model, with most students coming to school two to three days a week.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for grassroots, democratic involvement in our city more than ever before. Our city has had to make difficult budgetary choices due to the economic recession brought about by this virus, but we can never balance our budget on the backs of our students. I am enormously proud to have worked with PBP and the creative, energetic students and administrators from these schools to have made these projects a reality,” said Adams.
Earlier this year, the City Council canceled PB citywide due to the coronavirus outbreak. Borough President Adams and PBP were able to partner to allow two schools in Brooklyn to conduct PB elections using remote learning platforms to vote in April on the allocation of $500,000 in discretionary capital funding through Adams’ office
After students, parents and staff voted at Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School and Tilden voted both learning institutions received $64,000 for filtered water fountains/bottle-filling stations to all floors and lunchroom (eight total), and $150,000 in first-floor student bathrooms upgrades.
AG James and DA Gonzalez Partner to Expand Housing Protection Initiative
New York Attorney General Letitia James and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez yesterday announced that they will be expanding their joint homeowner protection initiative to include protections for renters in New York City.
The “Protect Our Homes” initiative, launched in January 2020 to educate New Yorkers about deed theft and other housing scams, will now include support for New Yorkers threatened with illegal evictions and other issues plaguing renters. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, more New Yorkers are struggling to remain in their homes, and as a result, there is an increased risk for illegal evictions, deed theft, and other housing scams.
James and Gonzalez will convene a meeting of the expanded taskforce today that will include The Legal Aid Society, Legal Services NYC, and other providers of eviction prevention services in New York City. The taskforce will now expand its efforts to include issues targeting renters and evictions.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are on the verge of an acute housing crisis in New York,” said James. “Longtime homeowners in New York City were already grappling with deed theft fraud, and economically challenged renters will soon be facing evictions. I am committed to working with District Attorney Gonzalez and our other government and legal service partners to use a combination of education and enforcement to help our neighbors stay in their homes.”
“The impending housing crisis in Brooklyn will have devastating effects on our community,” said Gonzalez. “We must do everything in our power to protect homeowners and renters from unscrupulous actors. I look forward to continue working with Attorney General James to ensure every Brooklynite can be safe in their home.”
As housing courts begin to reopen and the eviction moratoriums lift, New Yorkers who lost their jobs and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic are at high risk for eviction. The taskforce will discuss emerging trends that are putting people at risk of displacement, review complaints, and take appropriate action as needed. The taskforce will also work to educate renters facing eviction about their rights, and, as appropriate, connect them with lawyers through New York City’s Right to Counsel law.
Rose Gets Nearly $100 Million to Fight Opioid Epidemic
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) led a bipartisan effort this week for an increase in funding for opioid prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.
That after the House Committee on Appropriations passed legislation increasing funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) by $96 million above current funding levels and $238 million above the President’s budget request.
The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote.
“We continue to see the opioid epidemic take too many lives in our communities,” said Rose, a member of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioids Task Force. “With heightened stress and pain from the pandemic, so many people are hurting more than ever and we must be there for them. This nearly $100 million increase in funding will build upon the $140 million increase we secured last year—because now’s the time to double down on prevention, treatment and recovery efforts—not scale back. I won’t rest until we beat the opioid epidemic and I’m proud to lead this effort.”
Louis, Other Electeds Reopen Outdoor Dining at Suede Restaurant
City Council Member Farah Louis (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Marine Park, Flatlands, Kensington), U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-East Flatbush, Central Brooklyn) and State Kevin Parker (D-East Flatbush, Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington, Park Slope) and the city’s Small Business Services Commissioner Jonnel Doris today will join Suede Restaurant owners in East Flatbush to reopen its outdoor garden dining space after serving as a main hub for distributing food to essential workers.
This celebration will coincide with their Third Annual Teachers’ Appreciation BBQ. Suede Restaurant, renowned for its charitable work, has been a staple business in the community,
Over 75 Department of Education teachers will also be on hand as well as members of Community Board 17.
The event is slated for between 6-8 p.m., today, July 16 at Suede Restaurant – 5610 Clarendon Road Brooklyn, NY (between East 56th and East 57th Streets).
